Redlands Airfield

Redlands Airfield (X2SN) is an unlicenced private airfield in Wanborough, East of Swindon, Wiltshire, a few miles from junction 15 of the M4. Redlands Airfield also hosts a small organic beef farm (owned by Joe and Sarah Smith) of about 50 acres. Joe Smith is a Wanborough Parish Councillor.

Redlands Airfield started as a small microlight club in the 1980s which subsequently expanded into microlight training without planning permission and neighbours objected to the noise caused by this operation. flying then ceased but the airfield re-opened in July 1998 after being granted planning permission by Swindon Borough Council for a microlight flying club.

The airfield has been controversial ever since due to the nature of the planning permission and continued complaints of noise nuisance to residents across a large area of North Wiltshire. Over the years, the airfield expanded to include microlight training and in 2000 skydiving. The temporary assessment period for a skydiving club was cut short after the owners applied for early permission despite no flying having taken place due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic having closed the airfield. As a consequence there were no objections to the granting of planning permission. An agricultural barn received retrospective permission for microlight hangarage and a temporary moveable cafe was relocated to the barn without prior approval of the planning department who subsequently deemed it ancillary development. The expansion into skydiving with the London Parachute School heralded the beginning of many complaints about noise nuisance and a petition in 2005 objecting to this activity gathered nearly 1,000 objections. A mediator was engaged by Swindon Borough Council but without any result.

The first skydiving plane to fly from this site needed a longer runway than the grass strip of the microlight club. A new runway was constructed on a new alignment by removal of a hedge and pond without the prior approval of Swindon Borough Council to facilitate this. This aircraft a Russian Antonov AN2 was not licensed by the CAA for commercial flying use in the UK. The Australian Gippsland G8 skydiving plane crashed with its passengers and the current plane G-HTFU owned by Skydive London continues to fly from the Airfield.

Redlands hosts Clearprop Microlights and Skydive London. There is a Level 5 Food Hygiene Rated Cafe on site open weekends only for the use of those using Clearprop or Skydive London. The planning permission means that the cafe cannot otherwise be used by the general public.

Organisations based at the airfield include Redlands Microlight Club, Clearprop Microlight School. and Skydive London.

Visiting microlights are welcome at Redlands with PPR.

The Wanborough Spring Horse and Dog Show Wanborough, has been held at Redlands Farm in the last few years but is subject to whether the site has flooded or not. The Show, organised by a team of dedicated volunteers, has been running for more than 50 years, growing from a small village show to one that is recognised throughout the county.

In 2009 Joe and Sarah Smith who own the airfield were granted planning permission by Swindon Borough Council to continue its operations after Swindon Borough Council was threatened with a Judicial Review for its attempt to re-write planning conditions. The Aviation and Environmental Solicitor Richard Buxton of Cambridge had been engaged to challenge the Council's planning decision. The planning application had attempted to turn the personal life permission into a full business permission, despite this being against planning regulations.

The development of Redlands Farm into an airfield hosting microlights, microlight training and skydiving has not met with universal approval in Swindon and North Wiltshire. Since 2000 several campaign groups have fought development (Stop the Plane Campaign and Residents Against Redlands). In 2012 the Chair of Swindon Borough Council Planning Committee, Dale Heenan (a Councillor for Covingham, an area which is overflown) says 'As a result of the debate on the report, I have written to the two Swindon MP’s, Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland, in my capacity as Committee Chairman, to ask for their support to see local planning authorities having the ability to control aviation related noise from unlicensed airfields, and, ensure flight paths do not occur over residential areas. Justin Tomlinson MP has agreed to arrange a meeting with the minister and raise this matter!

This change cannot happen overnight, but it could have the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life for affected local residents in Swindon, and across the Country.

In reviewing the measures available to address this issue, Swindon Borough Council found it is limited in any involvement with aircraft noise when the aircraft is in the air. From a nuisance perspective this comes under s.79(1)(ga) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or the Noise Act 1996, (with the exception of model aircraft). This means that aircraft noise in the air is excluded by law from the control of Local Authorities, and is instead regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority through the certification of aircraft in the UK. Local Authorities must regulate aviation noise nuisance through the initial planning permission or must act subsequently by issuing a discontinuance notice with the permission of the Secretary of State.

Planning officers confirmed to Dale Heenan that the next version of Swindon’s Core Strategy could include dealing with Redlands as part of the Eastern Villages scheme, and said that if the Strategy can be amended it could allow a scenario where the farm can be optioned by a developer for a small number of houses, leading to the airfield closing. See In 2012 local residents continue to object to skydiving at Redlands

In 2013 Swindon Borough Council decided to include Redlands Airfield and Farm within the local structure plan and grant planning permission for a housing development with the intention of extinguishing the airfield. In 2013 the owners were in negotiation with several developers including Aynscough who had been appointed to develop Lotmead Farm and Barberry Developments were awarded the contract. It is rumoured that this development may be up to 500 homes. In 2014 the inspector took representations about the local structure plan. A decision about the soundness of the plan is expected before the end of the year.

External links

• Redlands Airfield official website
• Redlands Airfield webcam